NYS Amateur Boxing Championship Results/Highlights

Hi, folks – Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make the the two-day tournament at Turning Stone Casino last weekend. Fortunately, Paul Brown – USA Boxing Official, and terrific amateur boxer in his own right – was there, and agreed to send along some insights. Many thanks to Paul! – MR

NYS Amateur Boxing Championships

Correspondent Paul Brown

In a two-day tournament at Turning Stone Resort and Casino this past weekend, Bob and Linda Miller, Janice and Sam Design, Dave Wojicki and the rest of the team showed why their events consistently draw the greatest number of competitors and fans in regional amateur boxing. The group is trying to establish this new tournament, the New York State Amateur Boxing Championships, as an annual event at Turning Stone, with qualifying box-offs held around the state.

There were many highlights among the bouts – 22 on the first night and 18 the second – consisting of juniors, novice seniors and open class seniors, who had the opportunity to earn a trip to an upcoming open national qualifying tournament, e.g. National Police Athletic League Championships. Boxers from around the state participated, representing clubs including Albany, Amsterdam, Ellenville, Elmira, Messina, Monticello, Rochester, Saratoga, Schenectady, Syracuse, Troy and Watertown.

For me, the new crop of junior boxers in our region are the most exciting part of recent events. Rosean Cobb, of Albany’s Quail Street Gym, again showed why is likely the best young boxer in our area, winning two bouts impressively: Syracuse’s Shaquin McCauliffe on Friday and Cedric Mitchell, St. Martin’s of Rochester, on Saturday. Newcomer Noah Hunter, Schenectady Youth Boxing, also impressed with two victories over tough opponents, beating the taller Alberto Morales of Syracuse with in-and-out movement and overhand rights and narrowly edging the equally-impressive, young David Smith, Albany. Constantly improving Brandon Idrago, Old School Boxing in Ellenville, finally earned a victory over one of the Quail Street youngsters, edging Tajuan Williams in a rematch from last year.

Novice senior bouts made up the bulk of the tournament’s matches, with several new boxers worth watching as they develop. As the year progresses, Mike will certainly highlight those worth following. A number of new gyms have been established in the past couple of years, so there is a good pool of potential open senior boxers.

Our current open seniors, boxing three three-minute rounds, provided most of the best action of the two days. At 152 lbs, Albany’s Amir Iman, perhaps the best amateur boxer in Upstate NY, needed only one bout to show why he was the tournament’s Most Outstanding Boxer award winner, defeating the very talented Pedro Rivera, from Syracuse. Iman stalked Rivera, winning the exchanges from outside with quick jabs and crosses. Coach Jerrick Jones shared with me that he told Iman between rounds that Rivera’s movement was making it look too close, so Iman should step in after the 1-2 and work on the inside. The taller Iman showed perfect defense in handling Rivera’s short punches and finished combinations hard to the body, pulling well ahead as the bout ended. At 165 lbs, Syracuse’s Martez Potter, found a way to defeat the skilled Srdam Lukic, from a rival Syracuse gym, with constant lateral movement and punching from odd angles. At 178, Utica’s Derrick Evans out-scored Syracuse’s Chad Hayden in a rematch of power punchers with little defense. Evans movement proved the difference as he avoided more sold, scoring punches than Hayden. At 201, Albany’s Roger Zapata won a technical match-up with Saratoga’s Luis King and at 201+, Albany/Saratoga’s Josh Dulmer defeated a determined but outclassed Gordon Griffin, of Watertown.

As a super heavyweight, Clare O’Connell has been training to box at Quail Street for more than six years and has just a handful of bouts. It’s difficult to find female opponents that size except at national tournaments, which require a few bouts to enter. Clare has worked so hard over the years, but has had few opportunities to demonstrate it in the ring. She finally had the chance against Janine Gomilia, a Watertown boxer with a few bouts at a lower weight, using her long reach to earn a clear decision. Congratulations Clare!